Saturday, November 15, 2008

West Ham 0 Portsmouth 0

It was a rather subdued first half performance from West Ham. Both teams had their fair share of possession and both teams created a few half chances, with Portsmouth shading territory and probably having the clearer chances.

After 8 minutes Defoe should have scored after some good work by Johnson down Portsmouth's right wing. But from 6 yards Defoe shot wide with ILunga doing well to put him off the shot. In the 37th minute Defoe had another chance from the edge of the penalty area, which Ilunga deflected wide. In the 41st minute Diop headed over from 5 yards after Behrami had given a free-kick away on the left wing.

West Ham managed a few shots on goal themselves. Sears shot from nine yards from the right of the penalty area but James saved. Collison shot well wide from 25 yards after 26 minutes. In the 36th minute West Ham's best chance of the half fell to Cole four yards out but he completely missed the ball with his attempted volley.

Portsmouth started the sharper in the second half with Defoe twice having the chance to snatch the lead in the opening minutes. In the 46th minute Green saved well when Defoe tried to chip him from the edge of the area. Two minutes later and Defoe was put clear again. Again Defoe tried to chip Green and again Green was just able to reach the ball.

West Ham's best chance of the whole game came when Behrami drew a foul on the edge of the Portsmouth box. Bellamy hit the crossbar from the resulting free-kick. The ball rebounded off the bar to Collison on the edge of the box, Collison volleyed the ball back at goal only to see James save the ball low down.

Late on Defoe, with eight minutes left on the clock, was put clear once again and Green did well to save Defoe's shot from 6 yards.

West Ham will probably make a lot about keeping a clean sheet but in all honestly to say Defoe could have had a hat-trick would be unfair he should have had a hat-trick.